Who Is Jesus? // Be Free From Religion (Jesus Nights) Retreat 2024-04-30 | At the beginning of 2024, we asked ourselves, "What would it be like to host a night to simply teach about Jesus?" This past Friday, we gathered with our community to explore this idea. Although we may feel we already know who Jesus is, can we honestly say we've paused to ask the question? Who is Jesus, How did he live, what did He teach, and finally, what does that mean for me? Whether you were raised in religion, or have never heard of Jesus, we wanted to strip back all of the nonsense that has been added to his message. Jesus was not a political figure or a famous TV preacher.In recent years, Jesus has become someone that we weaponize for our own agendas, whether it be politics, religion, or our deeply held belief systems. We use Jesus to try and control others, instead of sharing his love freely with no agenda. Jesus is first and foremost a person of love. No matter where we are from, we are all looking for purpose, love, and connection. These deeply held needs are rarely met by the things we find in our lives. What does Jesus say about what we're dealing with in our daily lives? When we hear about Jesus, he's often painted as a glowing and holy figure who is untouchable to us sinners. The writer N.T. Wright said that when it comes to Jesus, it's easy to be complex and harder to be simple. With our monthly teachings on Jesus, we hope to present His message as intended. In the book Love Does, Bob Goff shares the idea of friendships with no agenda. That's how we're hoping to approach Jesus Nights. We will gather and teach Jesus, with no agenda. Join us each month for the Jesus nights teaching here on the Retreat Channel. Join us in person if you or someone you know is in the South Carolina area! May 17th, @ 7PM1010 E North StGreenville, SC 29601We hope to expand cities for Jesus nights in 2024, so join our email list to stay up to date!📱 Join Our Free Monthly Email "3 Deep Breaths"letsretreat.us21.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=20c5f4d18dbcfe269e34d1cd5&id=5abd47f87c💌 Help Us Tell More Stories & Give Away Books: givebutter.com/DsK4qk🎙️Consider Telling your Jesus Story on video (You Can also nominate someone!)https://forms.gle/7zx5pqm3uq6A3iCD8
Enjoy Your Coffee // Slow Down & Live Your Life Retreat 2024-09-24 | We are all waking up every day, but are we truly living? In our faith journeys, we begin by hearing all of the things that we should not do. Life becomes all about "not doing" the bad. As followers of Jesus, we are called into an active and vibrant life. We are allowed to have fun! We die to our sin, but it is unto being alive in Christ. We are made new! We become carriers of peace, joy, and love to those around us! We often find ourselves doing things "for" God instead of being "with" him. We are much more comfortable with doing over being. In a busy season of life, a friend asked if I was enjoying my coffee. When I drank coffee, it was all about staying moving and getting things done. On this day I realized I was not intentionally living my life. There were plenty of areas in my work and personal life where I was not paying attention. I was unwilling to slow down and smell the roses.One of the hardest people to see is yourself. I am thankful to have friends and community who will speak truth into my life. It is much easier for us to go about our day emotionally detached and numbed to the things and people around us. I would invite you to the moment that my friend called me into. Where are the places in your life that you're missing out on? Where could you be enjoying more? Enjoy your spouse.Enjoy your kids. Enjoy your hobbies. Enjoy your home. Enjoy your silence.Enjoy your coffee. Contrary to popular belief, the message of Jesus is not a doom and gloom message. Jesus offers love, kindness, acceptance, equality and inclusiveness. We've made the Christian life too serious. We've forgotten that in Christ we have a new life! The life of Jesus teaches us that the spiritual life is much more than a service you go to once a week. We can connect with God every day and discover what we need. As we slow down and pay attention, we will see God. As we see God, we will begin to truly see ourselves! The more we find out who we are, we will no longer live for the opinions of others. We will be free! Isaiah 43 MSGProverbs 4:1 NLT📱 Join Our Free Monthly Email "3 Deep Breaths"letsretreat.us21.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=20c5f4d18dbcfe269e34d1cd5&id=5abd47f87cOther Links: (Free Audiobook, Podcast & Art)https://linktr.ee/jordanzhawkins
God Doesnt Use Us #Shorts Retreat 2024-06-05 | God does not bypass us to use us. He is intimately aware of our needs and He desires to love us long before we do anything "for" Him. Watch the full teaching from Jesus Nights.youtu.be/VqQX2c7n41U?si=SQcWxhmWiU04bf7J
Humans Want To Be Free #shorts Retreat 2024-05-08 | Jesus didn’t do anything apart from the father. Watch the full teaching from Jesus Nights.youtu.be/VqQX2c7n41U?si=SQcWxhmWiU04bf7J
Where Is Jesus When We Struggle? #Shorts Retreat 2024-05-02 | Jesus is not distant in our struggles.Watch the full teaching from Jesus Nights.youtu.be/VqQX2c7n41U?si=SQcWxhmWiU04bf7J
On Mission Without Jesus #shorts Retreat 2024-05-01 | Trying to follow the great commission without love will ruin you. Watch the full teaching from Jesus Nights.youtu.be/VqQX2c7n41U?si=SQcWxhmWiU04bf7J
The Secret To Revival #Shorts Retreat 2024-04-30 | Most awakenings and revivals only had one message. Watch the full teaching from Jesus Nights.youtu.be/VqQX2c7n41U?si=SQcWxhmWiU04bf7J
How Important Is Jesus? #shorts Retreat 2024-04-30 | We cannot overestimate the importance of Jesus. Watch the full teaching from Jesus Nights.youtu.be/VqQX2c7n41U?si=SQcWxhmWiU04bf7J
Healing From Lyme Disease #shorts Retreat 2024-04-26 | Caleb's Jesus StoryFull Video: youtu.be/Yvt-ZqdsSWI
Meeting Jesus While Surfing & Healing From Lyme Disease // Retreat Stories Retreat 2024-04-24 | Caleb grew up in a Baptist church in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. After living his own way for many years, he started to encounter God while surfing. The idea that God was speaking to Him was radical compared to how he was raised. A big part of his story was realizing he had Lyme disease. As Caleb shares his testimony you will hear how God blessed him with a full and complete healing. 🎙️Consider Telling your Jesus Story on video (You Can also nominate someone!)https://forms.gle/7zx5pqm3uq6A3iCD8💌 Help Us Tell More Stories & Give Away Books: givebutter.com/DsK4qk📱 Join Our Free Monthly Email "3 Deep Breaths"letsretreat.us21.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=20c5f4d18dbcfe269e34d1cd5&id=5abd47f87c
My Commitment To You #shorts Retreat 2024-01-09 | I'm going to speak when I have something to say. Full Video: youtube.com/watch?v=cjmURkAk5zA
Seeking Jesus & Kingdom First // Life Update Retreat 2024-01-05 | With coffee and books in hand, I wanted you to join me as I start my day. This past year has been a crazy and wild ride. As I often do, I wanted to share a bit of a life update with you guys at the start of the new year. I'm sure that we all have many good stories and life lessons from the past year. In addition to my personal life, I'll share thoughts and visions for the next year of the channel and podcast! It's easy to get caught up in the hustle and forget to slow down and reflect as we move into the new year! Life without social media was my first viral video on YouTube. This content surrounding unplugging, slowing, and living intentionally became my focus in the past few years. One major life update was during this season I walked away from my photography and videography business. It's been an interesting balance to know when to create content for you guys and when to slow down and prioritize my personal life. I never want to be someone who teaches something but doesn't live it. Life is not just about unplugging from technology, it's about creating a healthy relationship with the things around us. So much of our world is built around what we can see. Faith teaches us to look inward and begin to build our inner life. Who we are on the inside will eventually become visible. As I move forward, Matthew 6:33 is a verse i'll be meditating on. "Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need." As I teach on intentionally living out our faith in the every day, we'll begin by focusing on the life and teachings of Jesus. Who Jesus is and the importance we place on him has more implications than we may ever realize. We have to honestly ask ourselves, do we actually know Jesus or do we only know the version of him that was presented to us? At times, religion and well-meaning people have shown actions that don't line up with the love, kindness, and inclusiveness of Jesus. He ate with sinners, defended prostitutes, and healed the outcasts. Jesus made people uncomfortable by how much he loved what the world would consider unlovable. Meeting Jesus is often much different than experiencing Westernized church. We can often find ourselves mindlessly reading the bible and not connecting with the person who the book is about. Retreat's mission statement is to inspire others into intentional living and everyday faith. All of our stories, teachings, and videos will surround this idea. It's important to understand the everydayness of faith. We can experience God while washing dishes, hanging out in the yard, or cooking dinner at night. He is with us whether we are aware of it or not! From this place of knowing Jesus, we can now serve the world around us. Creating with our own hands and serving others is one of the most fulfilling places in the kingdom. This opposes much of western culture that makes everything about me. As a creator, I wanted to say thank you for supporting me over the years. I've been on a journey of finding myself and developing a healthy balance with the online world. You guys have been so supportive of me on this journey and i'm looking forward to creating new videos this year! All of the links mentioned in today's video are below!✉️ Encouraging Monthly Emails From Me! (FREE)https://linktr.ee/solas.artist💪🏼 Flow Method // Entrepreneurship & Leadership Podcasthttps://linktr.ee/solas.artist🎨 Solas // The Art Of Creating Alone:youtube.com/@solas.artistOther Links: (Free Audiobook, Podcast, Art & Courses)https://linktr.ee/solas.artistTimecodes: 0:00-2:53 Welcome2:54-5:57 Creating For You & Staying True5:58-7:41 The Inner & Outer Life7:42-11:48 Seeking Jesus & Kingdom First11:49-13:54 Why Faith Can Be Unfulfilling13:55-14:21 Doubting Your Faith?14:22-17:17 Retreat Vision // Intentional Living & Everyday Faith17:18-18:34 Creating & Serving18:35-19:10 SOLAS19:11-22:09 Flow // Influencing The Influencer22:10-25:27 Recap
Knowing The Word & Missing Jesus #shorts Retreat 2024-01-03 | It's easy to gain a lot of head knowledge and miss Jesus. We must begin to live out what we read and know to be true!Full Video: youtube.com/watch?v=cjmURkAk5zA
Jesus Is Love #Shorts Retreat 2024-01-02 | No one is more true to love than Jesus. Full Video: youtube.com/watch?v=cjmURkAk5zA
God Is Opening Doors For You // New Years Encouraging Word Retreat 2024-01-02 | I have never been someone who needed a “word from God” for the new year. As I sat down with my coffee a few mornings back I was open to direction. God, what do you have for me this year?Is there anything I’m missing?What or who do you want to open my eyes to in this coming year? As I prayed, I quickly journaled “Walk through the open doors.” In my mind, I connected this with thoughts of the new year. 2023 was a year of transition, anxiousness, and rest. As I received the word about open doors, I began to see all the places in my life where I stood at closed doors. I was knocking, turning door knobs, and if I’m honest, trying to pick a few locks. I was trying to break into places where God wasn’t calling me and grace wouldn’t have kept me. You see, impatience will always attempt to lead you around the promise to get the blessing. The problem with taking things into our own hands is that the scriptures say that all good things come from Him. There is no shame in this message. It is 100% in our human nature to take things into our own hands. Trust is built, earned, and learned. We must now or later, learn to trust that our father knows best. It’s worth taking a deep breath to know that we don’t have to pick any locks or break into any windows this year. Abba has opened doors for each of us. It may not be fully what we expected, but the promise is that it will be better! Revelation 3:8 says, “I know all the things you do, and I have opened a door for you that no one can close.”Instead of feeling shame that we’ve taken control again, what if we simply slow down and release each of the things that we need to trust Him with? Freedom and joy always come when we release control and trust Him. ✉️ Encouraging Monthly Emails From Me! (FREE)https://linktr.ee/solas.artist📱Subscribe To The Retreat Channel to see the full video:youtube.com/channel/UCYUz-mIri49XbtG78Le7ONA💪🏼 7 Day Reset // Social Media Detox Challenge:jzhawkins.gumroad.com🎧 Listen to my new book Everyday Prayer (FREE)youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=axLj4SQwCpE
Growing Without Social Media // My Story (Off Social Course) Retreat 2024-01-01 | This is an exclusive free teaching from the Growing Your Brand Off Social Media course!It feels like just yesterday I was exhausted from comparison and burnt out from trying to keep up on social media. My mental health was at an all-time low, and I felt paralyzed when it came to creating new content. I knew that I needed to unplug and reset. The one looming thought was that "there is no way I can grow my business without social media!" This led me down the path of learning ways to grow as an artist and entrepreneur off social media. 💡Check out the course "Growing Your Brand Off Social Media: jzhawkins.gumroad.com/l/oyylv?layout=profile💪🏼 7 Day Reset // Social Media Detox Challenge:jzhawkins.gumroad.com/l/gqqfwe?layout=profile✉️ Encouraging Monthly Emails From Me! (FREE)https://linktr.ee/solas.artist
Leaving Everything Behind // The Art of Creating Alone Retreat 2023-12-04 | I left my videography and photography one year ago. I was booking clients and making money, but I had lost the art. When your hobby becomes your job, you lose your hobby. It's hard to believe but at times success can be your greatest weakness. I had grown the business I wanted, but somehow I had lost myself. The beginning of my season of art led me to the word Solas. Solas is the art of creating alone. It allowed me to believe that I could create all by myself. For so many years social media has led me to deal with comparison as a photographer. As much as I loved photography, I craved something less digital. As I distanced from the business I found myself shooting film photography again. I started to feel deeper emotions, and I began to write poetry. This journey of becoming an artist again was all about freedom. What would happen if I got lost? Where would it lead? Who would I become? These were all questions that I asked myself along the way. The freer I became I somehow realized that I wanted to experiment with abstract art. In previous seasons, I had admired artists but had never considered my photography to be the same. As I continue to create, I'll pause to create encouraging videos along the way. We can create alone and still be in community together. No matter where you are in life, I hope these videos encourage you to create again. Embrace the fear of creating and allow yourself to dream again!Follow Along For More Solas Videos:youtube.com/channel/UCkS464-ElGbWBLu8KFTFwDgSolas Website:jzhawkins.com
Marriage, Motherhood & Church Hurt // Isabelle (Retreat Conversations) Retreat 2023-11-28 | Isabelle got married during a pandemic and became a mom shortly after. To say that things were changing quickly would be an understatement! Earlier in life, after a season of church hurt, she was left feeling confused about religion and her journey of faith. Although she had been a believer since she was a child, she had a season of brokenness and mistrust that she had to walk through. While it was hard to trust Pastors & church again, the first step was to draw closer to Jesus. She's now happily married to her husband Micah who's a worship pastor at a local church. We discuss the realities of being on staff at a church that you also attend. When you're on a platform every week, it's easy to get burnt out or numb to the presence of God. Although their son Joel came quickly, they realized he was a part of the plan all along. Sometimes as a parent, it's easy to think that because you have kids you have to lay down all of your dreams with God. The beauty of growth and family is that God plans ahead when we can't see. Our hopes and dreams are safe as we choose to fully trust Him!Hospitality is also a gift that they share together as they host students and other friends as often as they can. While hosting sounds fun, there is the reality of late nights, noise, and dirty dishes. While gathering in small groups, the joy of friendship and the heart of Jesus always wins out.Looking back, she can now see how Jesus was walking with her every step of the way. In the midst of being a mom, pursuing her dreams, and caring for her husband, she realizes that she needs Jesus more than ever. When there are seasons of brokenness and grief, we can all trust Him to walk with us each step of the way. We are not alone, and this is an encouraging place to live! Retreat: As we continue with our retreat community, it's our desire to tell creative and engaging stories of people living for Jesus in their everyday life. We'll share videos that encourage you to intentionally live out your faith in the everyday. Consider joining my weekly email “3 Deep Breaths" // We'll explore topics like everyday faith, intentional living and encouragements from scripture!letsretreat.orgIsabelle & Micah's Creative Short Film: youtu.be/Am4-GPfLNZsOther Resources on Church Hurt: youtu.be/tXO_UDmRu3wTimecodes:0:00-10:00 Parenting & Gap Year10:01-18:50 Married To A Pastor & Attending Church 18:51-34:04 Church Hurt, Trauma & Healing34:05-37:30 Hospitality, Love & Family37:31-42:29 Vulnerability For Men42:30-53:18 They Can't Be God For You53:19-57:44 Romans & Grace
Being Gay & Loving God // My Coming Out Story Retreat 2023-11-26 | It was time for me to share something about myself that has been inside for as long as I can remember. Something that has caused sleepless nights, heartbreak, and more pain than I ever knew existed. I remember in my early teenage years thinking, “I will die old without anyone ever knowing this secret about me”. You can explain it in a lot of different ways but I’ll just say for as long as I can remember I’ve had an attraction to the same sex. I wish I could adequately put into words how dark and painful a place like this can feel, especially as a teenager growing up in a world where this was not as accepted as it is today. If you have personally felt that you’ve carried a secret, or this one in particular, you know EXACTLY how I feel. Up until 20 years old, for the most part, I kept these thoughts and feelings about my sexuality to myself. The thoughts and temptations surrounding my sexuality caused me to leave my faith. You see it was my doubts about God like, “Why am I this way” or “I don’t understand this so I don’t trust you” that pushed me to walk away and leave the church I called home. I have told many people this but I believe my distance from God caused more problems than my actions did. My same-sex desires, matched with my unmet hope to find a wife, were the perfect pairing of loneliness that caused me to doubt the one whom I had trusted for so long. I titled this blog post Being Gay & Loving God, because I want to make one thing very clear. When I came back to God and got baptized in 2018 my same-sex attraction didn’t magically disappear. This is an important truth because it shows so many people, specifically in that community, that God not only loves them but that he’s longing to know them. If all of my homosexual feelings disappeared, it would almost say to those searching that they have to be good enough to meet God. That in itself goes against everything we believe about grace and the life that Jesus lived.I want to also be clear that God DOES change us for the better when we choose to open our lives up to Him. I think for far too long religious people have tried to define what that change should be and how quickly it should take place.Do I walk around carrying a specific title under the LGBTQ+ covering? I don't, but I did want to share the title of this blog post to show that many of the feelings that would categorize me as “gay” didn’t go away when I returned to faith. For many years, I lived in the dilemma of “I’m gay, and I love God.”I will unapologetically open myself to the criticism of people whom I do not know if it means I can offer hope to someone who feels alone and without support. If you can relate to my story at all know that you are not crazy, you are not alone and you are most definitely loved. No matter where you go or what you do you will always have a home at the cross. ** I want to end by briefly saying that this was my original blog post opening up about my sexuality and time living the gay lifestyle. This particular story was shared 4+ years ago and has now been reposted. With such a complex topic, there is no way to cover everything in one post. This is not my complete story, but is meant to be a foundation I can build upon as I continue to share.I faced a lot of unhealthy pressure from my former workplace to delete this post. After time has passed, I feel that this video is supposed to be out there! I'm now in a relationship with a girl, but this was apart of who I was. Although I’m not in this exact place anymore, it’s important to me to share my full journey for others to see. As always, I welcome your questions and comments below! This helps me come up with new topics and even learn things that others are dealing with. I don’t ask this often, but would you consider sharing this with someone who may need this encouragement?Consider joining my weekly email “3 Deep Breaths // We'll explore topics like everyday faith, intentional living and encouragement from scripture!letsretreat.orgWatch "Following Jesus with Same-Sex Attraction" to hear more of my story!youtu.be/GuguEhwq21oTimecodes:0:00-2:00 My Deepest Secret2:00-4:00 Feeling Alone4:00-6:00 We Are His6:00-7:44 I Share My Story For You
Moving Past Your Issues In Prayer #Shorts Retreat 2023-10-10 | See The Full Video "Praying With Paul" youtube.com/watch?v=_TKZ9gEMxic
Power In Uncertain Times // Fear, Anxiety & Prayer (Retreat Talks) Retreat 2023-09-27 | In today’s retreat talk, I want to set the stage for what God is doing on our retreat platform. Life has felt out of control and uncertain for the past few years. Fear, anxiety, and worry often come to find us as we read the news and view our social media feeds. So how are we as followers of Jesus supposed to respond to the uncertainty around us? I believe we have 2 options. We can sit by helpless or we can trust in Jesus. A mentor once told me, “Prayer is the most powerful tool available to man!” Wow, that is a mic-drop word right there. While prayer is so often misunderstood, it is our true place of power. Prayer gives us handles and an element of control in situations that seem to be helpless. Your life doesn’t have to be completely falling apart to need prayer. God promises to be with us in the everyday. As we talk through these topics, we look into the scriptures at Jairus and the woman with the issue of blood. How do these stories of desperation relate to the things that we’re dealing with today?Jairus was desperate as his daughter was slowly dying. The woman with the issue of blood had tried all of the doctors and remedies available for her issue. "Don't worry about anything, pray about everything!"Philippians 4:6-7 Then as you pray, God will bless you with peace that no one can completely understand! I don't know about you, but I need some peace that will control the way I think and feel! I want to tell you something that will bring you hope, God didn't stop answering prayers! God is not dead. The bible stories aren't meant to make us spectators but participants in the story of Jesus! Although we are surrounded by uncertainty, pain and struggle, we are not alone! We are not left helpless, He is with us!
Sacrifice Is Joy #Shorts Retreat 2023-09-22 | Having kids and getting married isn’t a punishment. As we follow Jesus, our sacrifice can often feel more like joy! We’ll post the full video to this conversation next week!
Boundaries Protect You #Shorts Retreat 2023-09-13 | The people who we think we need boundaries with the least are the ones we need them with the most.
Everyday Prayer Audiobook 🎧 For The Rest of Us // Jordan Hawkins Retreat 2023-08-10 | I always wondered...How can I develop consistency in my time with God? What do I do when I pray and nothing happens? Am I allowed to practice meditation as a Believer?Is anyone even listening to me when I pray?Over time, I desired to understand prayer in the most practical of ways. I believe that prayer and walking with Jesus is simple. He didn't set out to confuse us or hide fundamental truths behind religious walls. Prayer is spiritual problem-solving. We can complain and gossip, or we can pray. We can stay up all night worrying, or we can take our needs to Him. The more I dug into prayer, I realized this project was for single parents, 3rd shift workers, waitresses, college students, designers, retired grandparents, and anyone in between. Think of it as a blue-collar book on prayer. It's a small collection of thoughts meant to be enjoyed in everyday life. I am a follower of Jesus, creative thinker, and business owner, I am not a pastor, priest, or theologian. This little book on prayer is simply for the rest of us. 📖 Buy A Print Copy: https://a.co/d/6khJmBpTimecodes:0:00-3:23 Foreward 3:24-15:14 Introduction15:15-26:28 I. First26:29-32:56 II. Feelings32:57-42:52 III. Encounter42:53-45:56 IV. Plan45:57-55:39 V. Practical55:40-1:02 VI. Gift1:02:14-1:07:56 VII. Place1:07:57-1:16:17 VIII. Silence1:16:18-1:23:40 IX. Meditation1:23:41-1:31:42 X. Rhythm 1:31:43-1:37:43 XI. Room1:37:44-1:46:02 XII. Word1:46:03-1:49:55 XIII. God1:49:56-2:02:26 XIV. Wants2:02:27-2:10:05 XV. Good2:10:06-2:18:48 XVI. Fight2:18:49-2:28:47 XVII. Planting2:28:48-2:34:39 XVIII. Assurances 2:34:40-2:44:30 XIX. Conversation2:44:31-2:50:20 XX. Steps2:50:21-2:53:04 XXI. The Great TeacherI wanted to share with you about the release of my new book everyday prayer. Oftentimes prayer feels unattainable and it seems out of reach. My heart was to make prayer accessible again with simple and practical truths. The book really started out for me at a place of, I don't feel like what do I do? How do I connect with God when I don’t feel like praying? Everyday prayer is a call into a daily relationship with God, when we feel like it when we don’t. Although I am selling the print version of this book, I felt led to give away the full-length audiobook for free. Consider sharing this link with a friend or someone who you think may enjoy it! :)
A Personal Place in Marriage? #Shorts Retreat 2023-04-20 | How do I make space to personally pursue God while I'm married? God knows me the most and loves me the best!Isabelle's Story: youtube.com/watch?v=Am4-GPfLNZs
Communing With Him // Praying With Paul (Everyday Prayer Book) Retreat 2023-04-12 | Why can we trust God through prayer with our concerns, fears, and struggles? Great possibility and power are found in our ability to trust in prayer. Today, I want to talk about Paul's prayer to the people of Ephesus.Paul's prayer is leading us right to Jesus, the center and connector of all things. All great spiritual teaching and preaching lead to Jesus. Paul lets us know early on that he is praying to the Father, the creator of heaven and earth.We see that all true prayer is from a place of humility. We can trust Paul's words because he didn’t write them in the midst of an easy and perfect life. All hell was breaking loose against Paul as he preached that Jesus was the only way to eternal life.All true prayer eventually moves past our issues and points to God. We give Him the glory when things go our way and when they don’t. We rest in his perfect love. We rely on His strength when we’re ready to give up. It's not just about talking to Him, it's about communing with Him. Out of true gratitude, praise, and communion with Him comes some amazing answers in prayer.The scripture that was read: Ephesians 3:14-21 (NLT)Hey! I wrote a book 📖Be one of the first to purchase my new book "Everyday Prayer" here: https://a.co/d/6khJmBp💌 Sign up for our free community! letsretreat.org Receive exclusive content like videos and blogs in your inbox! 😊 🎙Listen to the Flow Method for Entrepreneurs and Leaders:Apple: apple.co/3g9TnfySpotify: https://spoti.fi/3Ezw7B2Timecodes:0:00-1:05 Book Promo1:06-8:01 Praying With Paul
Can I Meditate As A Christian? // Everyday Prayer Book Retreat 2023-03-21 | Do you ever wonder, can I meditate as a follower of Jesus? Can my prayer life involve meditation? I believe meditation is one of those words hijacked by culture and as a result, Christians have become afraid of it. Today, I want to share some ways we can meditate as followers of Jesus! For many unbelievers, meditation is the best way they know how to escape depression, trauma, and anxiety. This may create an hour of clarity but all that junk ends up coming back and you end up exactly where you started.As believers, we can take this a step further to achieve more wholeness and fullness. One of our aims in meditation is to fill our minds. We fill our minds with the truth of scripture, peace from God, and eternal joy. Freely receiving from our loving Heavenly Father. “So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace.”Romans 8:6 NLTWould you believe me if I told you meditation could create consistency and depth in your prayer life? I want you to feel the freedom to explore this yourself. Meditate through prayer, scriptures, and even your own thoughts. You may not be great at it at first but maybe ask the holy spirit to guide you. God is in a lot more things than we realize!📖 Buy My Book!Be one of the first to purchase my new book "Everyday Prayer" here: https://a.co/d/6khJmBp💌 Sign up for our free community! letsretreat.org Receive exclusive content like videos and blogs in your inbox! 😊 Everyday Prayer Book!MB01W5XKEINWIR9MB01BHJHHKP8C6K
The Real Reason You Stop Praying // 2 Simple Practices (Everyday Prayer Book) Retreat 2023-03-06 | Do you overcomplicate your prayer life? Do you often ask, am I doing this right? Sometimes as followers of Jesus, we can make things more complicated than they need to be. Today, I want to share with you two simple practices that have changed my prayer life. If I'm honest sometimes I don't feel like praying. I believe one of the biggest hindrances to prayer and meditation is our unwillingness to open ourselves up to it. It's almost impossible to feel connected to him when we're unaware of him. We're so busy and hyper-focused on productivity that we miss the quiet moments with him."Watch and pray so that you will not give into temptation. For the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak." Matthew 26:41To strengthen our prayer lives we must accept our deep need for God and awareness of His presence. We are not naturally holy, flawless, and restored, but through Jesus, we can claim promises like these. If I'm struggling to be aware of him I often ask him to help me. If I don't think I'm connecting, I will humbly seek him on how to do it better. I hope this simple truth helps you as much as it helps me.The next time don't feel connected to God ask these simple questions: Have I positioned myself to become aware of his presence? Have I slowed down enough to allow space for God to move and speak in my life?No matter where you are in your journey remember that prayer is one in itself. Don't get discouraged when you forget to pray or skip a few days. That is okay. God is always there ready to connect with you and help you with all that life brings your way.📖 Hey! I wrote a book!Be one of the first to purchase my new book "Everyday Prayer" here: https://a.co/d/6khJmBp💌 Sign up for our free community! letsretreat.org Receive exclusive content like videos and blogs in your inbox! 😊 🎙Retreat Podcast: (Extended Conversations & Stories)Apple: apple.co/3UFVt64Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3O8tYiS
Engaging Like Jesus // Enjoying Culture #shorts Retreat 2023-02-24 | Click the link to subscribe to my channel: bit.ly/2YVCgVj
Needing Him More Than Ever // Isabelle (Retreat Stories) Retreat 2023-02-22 | Isabelle got married during a pandemic and became a mom shortly after. To say this was a life transition would be an understatement. Earlier in life, after a season of church hurt, she was left feeling confused about religion and her journey of faith. Although she had been a believer since she was a child, she had a season of brokenness and mistrust that she had to walk through. She's now happily married to her husband Micah who's a worship pastor at a local church. Although their son Joel came quickly, they realized he was a part of the plan all along. Sometimes as a parent, it's easy to think that because you have kids you have to lay down all of your dreams with God. The beauty of growth and family is that God plans ahead when we can't see. Our hopes and dreams are safe as we choose to fully trust Him!Hospitality is also a gift that they share together as they host students and other friends as often as they can. Looking back, she can now see how Jesus was walking with her every step of the way. In the midst of being a mom, pursuing her dreams, and caring for her husband, she realizes that she needs Jesus more than ever. When there are seasons of brokenness and grief, we can all trust Him to walk with us each step of the way. We are not alone, and this is an encouraging place to live from! Retreat: As we continue with our retreat community, it's our desire to tell creative and engaging stories of people living for Jesus in their everyday life. Click the link to subscribe to our channel: bit.ly/2YVCgVj 💌 Sign up for our free community! letsretreat.org Receive exclusive content like videos and blogs in your inbox! 😊 What is Retreat? youtube.com/watch?v=fzJ7ncUwO5kMusicbed:MB01QJ7CBBX8GNGMB01GVBZDCYBRPS
Growing Your Brand Without Social Media // Trailer Retreat 2023-01-17 | Businesses survived and thrived without social media for hundreds of years. While it's a great tool, it often leaves us feeling burnt out, confused, and overwhelmed! I felt like this after I had been pursuing my side hustle for a few years. No matter what I did, I couldn't seem to break through all of the noise. Every time I logged on, I felt paralyzed by comparison and overwhelmed looking at others. I started to wonder, Is it possible to grow my brand and still prioritize my own personal well-being? It's time we learn the ways we can evolve and grow off of social media, not without it. If social media changed or disappeared tomorrow, where would your organization actually be?How does someone engage on social media, while still being able to prioritize their health and growth as a person and organization? As we begin to focus on offline growth, we can return to our social media strategies with a renewed perspective. I want business owners and leaders to believe they can and will grow their brands off social media! What you'll get:-Find The Clients and Sales You're Missing Out On-Rethink Your Marketing & Growth Strategy-Overcome Comparison & BurnOut-Pause, Slow Down & Find Your Unique VoiceJoin the exclusive group of people who are learning to grow off social media!📚💡Check out the course "Growing Your Brand Off Social Media: jzhawkins.gumroad.com/l/oyylv?layout=profile💪🏼 7 Day Reset // Social Media Detox Challenge:jzhawkins.gumroad.com/l/gqqfwe?layout=profile✉️ Encouraging Monthly Emails From Me! (FREE)https://linktr.ee/solas.artist
Your First Prayer #shorts Retreat 2022-11-23 | Pray this prayer when you don't know what to do!Click the link to subscribe to my channel: bit.ly/2YVCgVj
Guilt Free Rest #shorts Retreat 2022-11-11 | Most people don't like to rest because they feel like rest means doing nothing. True rest is about doing something that fills you up. Is it possible to experience guilt free rest?Click the link to subscribe to my channel: bit.ly/2YVCgVj
I Dont Wake Up Creative #shorts Retreat 2022-11-04 | What happens when you wake up in the morning and you don't feel creative?Click the link to subscribe to my channel: bit.ly/2YVCgVj
Life With A Dumb Phone (Light Phone Review) Retreat 2022-10-20 | Today I want to share with you my experiments with a dumb phone. When I decided to get rid of my smart phone for a season, I somehow came across a product called the light phone. The Light Phone is a premium, minimal phone. It will never have social media, clickbait news, email, an internet browser, or any other anxiety-inducing infinite feed. It's an experience the company calls “going light.”Deleting social media was what first lead me down the path of rethinking many of the ways I live in the social and digital age. It was my social media and porn addictions that lead me to truly get rid of my smart phone for a season.I am not today, nor will I ever be the person who hates smart phones and social media. They are incredible tools that help us engage with the world, grow a business or spread an important message. With that being said, I may spend the rest of my life pausing and presenting the realities of what this new world can mean for each of us. Cal Newport mentions this concept as well. “Digital minimalism definitively does not reject the innovations of the internet age, but instead rejects the way so many people currently engage with these tools.” Getting rid of your smartphone quickly forces you to change the way you interact with those tools. Whether you’re close to the place of getting rid of your smart phone, or are considering getting a second phone, the light phone may be a good option for you. 📲 Living Life Without A Smart Phone: youtube.com/watch?v=E_ODWrvxdK0📝 Join My 7 Day Social Media Detox: bit.ly/3K3Gv3w💌 Sign up for our free community! letsretreat.orgReceive exclusive content like videos and blogs in your inbox! 😊 🎙Retreat Podcast: (Extended Conversations & Stories)Apple: apple.co/3UFVt64Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3O8tYiSClick the link to subscribe to my channel: bit.ly/2YVCgVj Timecodes: 0:00-1:44 Digital Minimalism 1:45-3:06 The Dumb Phone3:07-3:52 Increased Awareness 3:53-7:13 Light Phone Thoughts7:14-9:16 What I'm Using Now9:17-10:58 Who We Are Becoming10:59-11:34 Should I Buy It?2 John 1:12Romans 12:2
Resist FOMO & Find Your Vision #shorts Retreat 2022-10-18 | The main way I slow down to find vision for the future. 📝 Join My 7 Day Social Media Detox: bit.ly/3K3Gv3wClick the link to subscribe to my channel: bit.ly/2YVCgVj
Watching A Megachurch Crumble (Lessons Learned) Retreat 2022-09-15 | I watched a mega church go from thousands members to only a few hundred. Why is it that we see so many unhealthy churches crumble? How can one of the fastest growing churches in America go downhill? How are we as believers to find healthy communities be apart of? I want to be clear that I'm not a megachurch hater. Good things grow and get bigger and I believe in that. Today, I focus on unhealthy and healthy church culture. I simply want to paint a picture of what we were doing and what it lead to. Unfortunately, in our church experiences there are times when Jesus slowly gets removed from the throne. We begin to focus more on our church branding, personalities on the stage, and our social media accounts. I am fully behind the Church and God's plan to reach the world with the message of the gospel. I'm now apart of a healthy church where I'm learning and growing together with others. My church hurt experience was over a year ago and I've walked through a lot of personal healing and processing since then. This video is shared with humility and under the fear of God. When a church falls apart, people do too. Trust is broken and often times it takes people a long time to heal and be able to move forward. With large organizations, the people who are attending rarely have a voice or a place to turn to when things go south. Pastors, Leaders, and Teachers are all called to a higher standard. We need look to Jesus and scriptures to define the true heart of a pastor. This calling is designed to be a humble position submitted before God. Sadly we see the office of pastor distorted by those who claim to be one. "Not many of you should be teachers. For we who teach will be judged more strictly." James 3:1Here's what Paul says about the reality of the gospel going forth no matter the unhealthy circumstances. Philippians 1:15-18 "It's true that some are preaching out of jealousy and rivalry, but others preach about Christ with pure motives. They preach because they love me. For they know I've been appointed to defend the good news. Those others do not have pure motives are they serve Christ they preach out of selfish ambition. Not sincerely but intending to make my chains more painful to me. But that doesn't matter, whether their motives are false or genuine, the message about Jesus Christ is being preached either way so I rejoice and I will continue to rejoice." Subscribe to the Retreat Youtube Channel: bit.ly/3yNMvM6Church Hurt Video: youtube.com/watch?v=tXO_UDmRu3w&t=14s 💌 Sign up for our free community! letsretreat.orgReceive exclusive content like videos and blogs in your inbox! 😊 🎙Retreat Podcast: (Extended Conversations & Stories)Apple: apple.co/3UFVt64Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3O8tYiSTimecodes:0:00- 7:04 So Here's What Happened7:05-15:30 What Went Wrong?15:31-18:18 Pastors Vs. False Teachers18:19-25:45 Finding A Healthy Church25:46-28:12 The Big Question 28:13-33:30 Healing & Trust
Should Christians Be Famous? Celebrity Pastors Retreat 2022-08-04 | Are we chasing after the wrong things? Becoming popular or famous isn't wrong, but if it's the driving force of your life it's a problem. It all boils down to your heart posture. In todays, show clip we discuss the topic of fame within christianity. What are you graced to do? It may or may not be the prettiest thing. But it is your call specific to you and you can't compare it to others.🎙Retreat Podcast: (Extended Conversations & Stories)Apple: apple.co/3UFVt64Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3O8tYiS💌 Sign up for our free community! letsretreat.orgReceive exclusive content like videos and blogs in your inbox! 😊 📝 Join My 7 Day Social Media Detox: bit.ly/3K3Gv3wClick the link to subscribe to my channel: bit.ly/2YVCgVj
Death To Personal Brand // Self Promotion & Dying To Self Retreat 2022-07-07 | In our walk with Jesus, what does "dying to self" look like in today's world? Is it okay to promote yourself, as a christian? Social media and celebrity culture often shapes our perception of success and self. Today, we discuss the journey of death to my personal brand. It can be easy to focus on the wrong things, and my pride can often get the best of me. As I have pursued art, creativity and business it has taken me years to realize that I don't need a personal brand.We can so easily tie our worth to our work or our success. There comes a point where we have to separate these two things so we can put our identity back in Christ. Living for affirmation and affection from people can lead you to a dry place. You become what you behold. When you follow Christ, what you become can actually surprise you. Transitioning Jordan Hawkins to Retreat means expanding the table for others to join. We will begin to create better and genuine content that's bigger than me. Follow along with us as we take this transition to a new place!Subscribe & Listen To Full Episodes:Apple Podcast: 🎙 apple.co/3yKBSsNSpotify Podcast: 🎙 https://spoti.fi/3yQXlk1Join My 7 Day Social Media Detox: bit.ly/3K3Gv3w💌 Sign up for our free community! letsretreat.orgReceive exclusive content like videos and blogs in your inbox! 😊 Good things as well as bad, you know, are caught by a kind of infection. If you want to get warm you must stand near the fire: if you want to be wet you must get into the water. If you want joy, power, peace, eternal life, you must get close to, or even into, the thing that has them. They are not a sort of prizes which God could, if He chose, just hand out to anyone. They are a great fountain of energy and beauty spurting up at the very centre of reality. If you are close to it, the spray will wet you: if you are not, you will remain dry. Once a man is united to God, how could he not live forever? Once a man is separated from God, what can he do but wither and die?- C.S.Lewis
Praying Away Success #Shorts Retreat 2022-07-05 | There have been moments in my life where I have prayed away success. Our culture teaches you to build your own name and promote yourself. There is a restful simplicity to trusting God and being faithful to His plan. I don't want to build something big just to crash it in the ground. Click the link to subscribe to my channel: bit.ly/2YVCgVjThis clip is from the Retreat Podcast
A Message To Burnt Out Creators Retreat 2022-05-24 | I recently came across a video by Tanner Fox, a successful entrepreneur and youtuber. After 10 years of being on Youtube, he was ready to tell the truth. The endless cycle of creating, living up to others opinions and even your own standards, can often lead creators and artists to what feels like the end. You got into this to create, and now your art has become a business and it no longer feels the same. Were we meant to sustain such a grueling creative posting schedule? Was all of our work meant to be put online for everyone to see? What should a creator do when faced with the realities of burn out and exhaustion? So many famous creators have attained all that they've ever dreamed of, so why aren't they happy? As we build platforms for our art, we can often do it at the expense of our own emotional and mental health. We often fall into the trap of comparison. The rat wheel of climbing our way to the top, all the while going nowhere. For me, it was one viral video on youtube. After over one million views, it made it really easy for social media to become the most important thing in my life. I struggled with this for many seasons avoiding the fact that I was supposed to write a book. I appreciate Tanner's honesty and wish him well on his journey of creating. As you take time for you and for others, you’ll realize how much joy and fulfillment can come from everyday life. As you pursue creating, leading or building an online platform, make sure that you’re also building up your inner life. You want to hold your social media platform, you don’t want it to hold you. You’re going to have good and bad days, just focus on your next steps. 📝 Join My 7 Day Social Media Detox: bit.ly/3K3Gv3w💌 Sign up for our free community! letsretreat.orgReceive exclusive content like videos and blogs in your inbox! 😊 Click the link to subscribe to my channel: bit.ly/2YVCgVj 🎙Retreat Podcast: (Extended Conversations & Stories)Apple: apple.co/3UFVt64Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3O8tYiSSome footage from Tanner's Channel: youtube.com/c/tannerfoxTanner FoxLogan Paul Timecodes:0:00-1:59 Burnt Out Creators2:00-2:51 Facing The Truth2:52-9:02 My 9 Thoughts9:03-10:38 Building Your Inner LifeGalatians 6:4
The Art Of Slowing // Psalm 23 (Life Update) Retreat 2022-05-06 | In today’s life update, I want to talk about the importance of slowing. God lead me to 2 things that I’m supposed to meditate on. I started the new year with so many ideas. The more time that passed, I realized I was only supposed to be focused on these specific things. “True vision has more restraints than liberties.” Once you figure out what you’re called to, it will often cause you to say no more than yes. As I’ve been in a season of slowing, I have found a true place of peace. When we pray and read, it’s important for us to not try and outsmart the plans of God. Faith is simply believing God. Slowing down is scary to me. Letting go of control hits my ego. As I slow down, I’m lead to a place of trust and dependence on my father. There comes a point when we have to be willing to look weird for the sake of following Jesus. Psalm 23 has been my passage of scripture for the year. There is one prayer that I’ve been praying that I believe will completely change my life. This year is about trusting the one who knows me better than me. Sometimes we’re not bad people, we’re just tired. We need to be refreshed by the streams of living water. There are moments in time when he calls us into a slower life. 📖 The Ruthless Elimination Of Hurry: amzn.to/3vR0m26📖 The Practice Of The Presence Of God: amzn.to/3LUlTww📝 Join My 7 Day Social Media Detox: bit.ly/3K3Gv3w💌 Sign up for our free community! letsretreat.orgReceive exclusive content like videos and blogs in your inbox! 😊 🎙Retreat Podcast: (Extended Conversations & Stories)Apple: apple.co/3UFVt64Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3O8tYiSScriptures Mentioned:Psalm 23 NLT Psalm 139Psalm 27Timecodes: 0:00-2:18 Slowing2:19-3:49 True Vision3:50-11:53 My 2 Things For This Year 11:54-16:18 A New Perspective 16:19-19:04 What is a good life?
Small Wins // Productivity Made Simple (MidDay Motivation) Retreat 2022-04-25 | Recently I've really tried to narrow down my morning routine. I used to start the day by taking on my biggest task. This lead to frustration because i'd still be working hours later having completed nothing. I realized that I need small wins to start the day. A small win is taking your to do list for the day and starting with the smaller tasks. Small wins put winds in your sails. Fear is often times the thing that keeps me from moving forward. The more I accomplish, the more I silence fear. No matter what you do, you can take this concept of small wins and implement it into your everyday life. 📝 Take The 7 Day Reset Challenge: bit.ly/3K3Gv3w☀️ 5 Ways To Improve Your Morning Routine: (Free Challenge)bit.ly/397PZOB🎙Listen to our Flow Podcast for Entrepreneurs and Creatives:Apple: apple.co/3g9TnfySpotify: https://spoti.fi/3Ezw7B2Midday Motivation is a short thought that will help motivate you throughout the day. It's my hope to encourage you in 5 minutes or less! These are exclusive to the podcast only so be sure to subscribe!
